ROSEVILLE, MI — AHB Tooling & Machinery, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Westbrook Engineering’s new machinery sales division, effective Oct. 2. The acquisition of Westbrook reinforces AHB’s position as a full-service metalworking distributor, deepening AHB’s range of machinery offerings and expertise.
“While AHB has been recognized as a Michigan metalworking leader for nearly two decades, this acquisition helps solidify that position,” said Kevin Hess, president of AHB. “Our customers have always trusted AHB for exceptional service paired with top-notch metalworking expertise. We provide our customers with unparalleled technical knowledge, including the ability to apply tooling at the spindle and providing metal fabricating solutions.
“That remains our true north. Now, we simply get to apply that value proposition to a deeper set of products. What’s more, our customers will enjoy the benefit of saving time and money by dealing with fewer suppliers. Customers have been asking us to carry more equipment like this for years. We listened, and we took action. When you add all that to our vending and integrated supply offerings, you have a pretty compelling value proposition.”
In 2018, AHB will also offer full-service web ordering, stock checks and research capabilities to match the offerings of the larger catalog companies.
The new AHB will provide a broader range of metalworking machinery, including but not limited to, band and cold saws, CNC press brakes and shears, iron workers, lasers, plasmas, tube bending, waterjets, CNC punches, rolls, automated structural equipment and machine consumables (saw blades, tooling, etc.) from suppliers including Costa, Crippa, CY Laser, Ermak, Euromac, Ficep, Flow Waterjet, Geka, Hougen, HYDMECH, Koike, Krras, Lenox, Scotchman, Standard and WDM.
Randy Szarek, (previously, a co-owner of Westbrook) comes to AHB as Director - New Machine Sales, with more than 40 years’ experience providing metalworking machinery solutions. Joel Hays, Director - Service, will now focus on expanding AHB’s service offerings including machinery repairs & refurbish, Preventive Maintenance Programs and other machinery related services. Don Will, Director - Fluids, Filtration & Waterjet, will continue to provide waterjet machinery, parts and consumables solutions.
"My team and I are excited to be a part of a great organization like AHB," Szarek said. "We’ve sold our equipment to AHB customers for years and we know how much they respect and value AHB. We know our customers will get the service and support they deserve — plus now they have access to literally hundreds of additional metalworking products through the full AHB portfolio."
AHB offers a wide range of industrial goods including; abrasives, custom welded band saw blades, cutting tools (both round tools and indexable inserts), fluids and air/water/oil filtration products. These products can be secured and maintained through various vending and integrated supply solutions. The combined AHB-Westbrook sales force will utilize both sets of customers to not only generate new machinery leads, but will also generate many new consumable opportunities for its current suppliers.
The new AHB will employ 41 individuals selling and supporting approximately $40 million in revenue.
AHB’s history dates to 1999 when current owner, Kevin Hess purchased American Hack & Band.
